Is an Americano cocktail related to Americano coffee?

No. The coffee is espresso with hot water. The cocktail is Campari, sweet vermouth and soda, an Italian aperitivo drink.

Which came first, the Americano or the Negroni?

The Americano. The popular story says a Count Negroni asked for one with gin instead of soda in Florence, though the details are debated.

Negroni vs Americano: what's the difference?

An Americano is a Negroni with soda water instead of gin: Campari and sweet vermouth topped with bubbles, so it's lighter, lower in alcohol and easier to sip.

Negroni

Easy

Boozy

Tart

Sweet

Not bitter

Bracing

Strong, bitter and herbal, a short drink that means business.

What does Negroni taste like?

Americano

Easy

Boozy

Tart

Sweet

Not bitter

Bracing

The same bittersweet flavor, stretched with soda into a long, easy sipper.

What does Americano taste like?

The real difference

Both start with Campari and sweet vermouth. The Negroni adds gin and is served short, so it's strong and intense. The Americano adds soda water instead and is served tall over ice, so the bitterness is still there but softer, lighter and fizzy.

Side by side

NegroniAmericano

Third ingredientGinSoda water

StrengthStrong, nearly all spiritLight, mostly soda

ServedShort, on a big ice cubeTall, over ice

Which to order

Order a Negroni if you want a strong, bitter drink to linger over.
Order an Americano if you want that bitter taste without the punch.

Quick questions

Is an Americano cocktail related to Americano coffee?: No. The coffee is espresso with hot water. The cocktail is Campari, sweet vermouth and soda, an Italian aperitivo drink.
Which came first, the Americano or the Negroni?: The Americano. The popular story says a Count Negroni asked for one with gin instead of soda in Florence, though the details are debated.